Catherine was the youngest child in a large family. At the age of 6 she had a vision in which Jesus appeared and blessed her. Her parents wanted her to marry, but she became a Dominicantertiary. She was a mystic and a stigmatist. Catherine received a vision in which she was in a mystical marriage with Christ, and the Infant Christ presented her with a wedding ring. She was counselor to Pope Gregory XI and Pope Urban VI. Catherine was proclaimed Doctor of the Church on October 4, 1970.
Born: March 25, 1347 at Siena, Tuscany,Italy
Died: April 29, 1380 of a mysterious and painful illness that came on without notice and was never properly diagnosed
Canonized: 1461 by Pope Pius II
Name Meaning: Pure one
Readings:
Charity is the sweet and holy bond which links the soul with its Creator: it binds God with man and man with God.
"Saint Catherine of Siena
Eternal Trinity, Godhead, mystery deep as the sea, you could give me no greater gift than the gift of yourself. For you are a fire ever burning and never consumed, which itself consumes all the selfish love that fills my being. Yes, you are a fire that takes away the coldness, illuminates the mind with its light, and causes me to know your truth. And I know that you are beauty and wisdom itself. The food of angels, you gave yourself to man in the fire of your love.
"Excerpts from On Divine Providence by Saint Catherine of Siena
Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind.
"Saint Catherine of Siena